How To Replace The Muffler On Your Passenger Truck
If your old truck has started to run very loud, then the muffler likely needs to be replaced. Thankfully, replacing a muffler is a fairly straightforward repair and can be done in your driveway. As long as you have some simple tools and a bit of mechanical ability, then you can easily replace your old truck's muffler.
Follow these steps to replace your truck's muffler like a professional auto mechanic:
Step 1: Jack Up the Rear of Your Truck
Place cement blocks in front of your truck's front tires and jack the truck up from the back. Once the truck is up high enough for you to work underneath it, place jack stands under the rear jack points. This will ensure your safety while you are under your truck.
Step 2: Remove the Faulty Muffler
Remove the faulty muffler by unscrewing the bolts that hold it together with the exhaust pipes. There will be a flange that contains bolts around its perimeter. You should remove the bolts using a socket and ratchet because you will need the extra torque to remove these bolts. Exhaust and muffler bolts are regularly exposed to high temperatures and often need some convincing to remove them. If you are struggling, you can apply some carburetor or brake cleaner to the bolts and let them sit for a moment to allow the grease and gunk to be dissolved by the solvent.
Step 3: Replace the Muffler & Dispose of the Old One
Once you have removed the flange bolts, pull the muffler from the exhaust pipe and replace it with the new muffler. The old muffler should be returned to the auto parts store for recycling. You should not dispose of the old muffler in your household trash. It contains platinum that should always be recycled.
Step 4: Replace the Bolts on the Muffler's Flange
Using the same socket you used to remove the bolts, replace the bolts on the muffler's flange to hold the new muffler in place. While you should tighten them down well, do not over-torque them as this can bend the flange and damage the exhaust pipe.
Step 5: Test Drive Your Truck
Once your truck's muffler has been replaced, you should take your truck out on the road for a test drive. Once the truck is hot, park it and check for exhaust leaks by examining the exhaust and watching for white smoke leaking from the pipe or flange area. If the muffler is leaking, then you should wait for it to cool before you remove it and reinstall it.
If you'd rather leave this job to the professionals, take your car to a company like Quality Discount Mufflers.